Discover Loeb’s Rally Guanajuato Mexico journey with those who know him best.

It had been three years since Sébastien Loeb was in that particular garage, five since he was there with a Citroen sitting in a gravel set-up. But in Mexico, the king was back.

And back among friends who’d known him since the start of his time with the French firm. This latest chapter in an incredible story almost delivered the fairytale finish. But for some, just seeing Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena back was enough. Here is all you need to know:

– Last time Loeb drove a Citroen (DS 3 WRC) on gravel he won. That was Argentina 2013. Ahead of last week’s Rally Mexico, he had no idea how he would get on. Nobody did.

– Seven stages into Rally Mexico and Loeb was fastest on the El Chocolate stage – a road he’d never seen before this year.

– Four stages later, he was leading the rally.

– A puncture shattered the dreams of the nine-time champion on the Atlantic’s far side. He finished fifth. But already people are talking about a win on the Frenchest of French islands, Corsica next time out.

– Sébastien fans in the World Rally Championship didn’t go disappointed in Mexico. Séb – the Ogier version – was on his usual sublime form to score his second win in three rallies. Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia delivered another breath-taking performance in their Ford Fiesta WRC to win Rally Mexico for the fourth time and return themselves to the top of the WRC table.

– Didier Clement, Citroen’s technical and sport co-ordinator, knows Loeb of old – he was on Seb’s first Citroen test in July, 2001. Clement says. “At that time it was clear he was fast and clever, but it was impossible to imagine what was coming in his career.” Clement celebrated those nine titles and 78 rally wins alongside Loeb.

– “I wasn’t sad when he left to go racing [in 2014],” says Clement. “I knew each story has to have an end and when you know the career of a driver will stop. But we talked still. Sometimes it would be one month between the time we talk on the telephone, but always it was like we talked yesterday. We never broke our relationship. So when we knew he was coming back, it felt natural.”

– Outwardly, Loeb is Mr Relaxed, cool, calm and completely collected. But don’t be fooled. “For Séb, it was always the details, he works very, very hard before the rally,” says Clement. “This hasn’t changed and we can see how it works for him here. Since the start of the rally, he has been there.”

– That work wouldn’t be possible without Elena, his right-hand man. “We have to talk about Daniel,” says Clement. “He is a bit part of the story, of the success. Seb without Daniel, I cannot imagine. This would not be right. They are a couple, but actually they are more than a couple! Citroën is special for Séb and Daniel and Séb and Daniel are special for Citroën.”